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The Milwaukee Bucks look to make it three straight wins for the first time in more than a month when they host the Miami Heat at 7 tonight.
The Bucks (35-19) won three straight from Jan. 20-24 under former coach Adrian Griffin and interim coach Joe Prunty. Miami (28-25) has won four of its last six.
The Bucks narrowed the gap to 79-70 at the start of the third quarter, but the Heat held it to just six points to lead 98-76 after three points.
Miami made 12 of 21 three-pointers in the first half and shot 56% from the floor overall to lead 60-52 over Milwaukee at halftime. The Bucks made just five of their 17 three-point attempts (29%) and turned the ball over eight times, resulting in 12 Heat points. Four of Miami's starters had double figures in the first half while Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 points and Bobby Portis had 11 for Milwaukee.
The Heat started the game making 75% of their three-pointers and ended the first quarter making 7 of 11 to give the Bucks a 40-28 lead after the first quarter. Milwaukee made 52% of its shots but only 2 of 7 from behind the 3-point line. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 12 points as the Bucks maintained their cohesion while trailing by up to 13 points at several points. Duncan Robinson and Nikola Jovic had 11 points each for Miami.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes. Antetokounmpo started the day likely suffering from right patellar tendinitis, which he has had since Feb. 4 at Utah. He averaged 27 points, 10.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists in the five games he played due to the injury.
Milwaukee Bucks injury report
- Khris Middleton out (sprained left ankle)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, possible (right patellar tendonitis)
- Damian Lillard, possible (sprained left ankle)
- Pat Connaughton, probable (bruised left knee)
- Brook Lopez, possible (back pain)
Bucks starters
- guards: Damian Lillard, owner of Beasley
- Attackers: Jae Crowder, Giannis Antetokounmpo
- center: Brook Lopez
The Heat signed Alondis Williams to a two-way contract
Milwaukee native Alondis Williams took a last-minute flight and arrived in his hometown before Tuesday's game to help out a team whose roster was decimated by injury.
Williams, who will be part of the Rising Stars showcase Friday night in the All-Star Game, was awarded a two-way contract due to his play in Sioux Falls in the G League.
“He deserved it,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said before the game. “It's great to be able to reward someone who came through the system and contributed so much to the win in Sioux Falls.
“We need more players now, so we are certainly grateful that he is able to join us.”
In 18 games with Sioux Falls, Williams shot 53.5% from the floor overall and averaged 21.8 points per game. The 24-year-old Riverside High School graduate came out of Wake Forest and initially signed a two-way contract with Brooklyn in 2022 and played just over five minutes in one game.
Heat star Jimmy Butler has been ruled out for personal reasons
The Marquette University graduate and Heat star suffered a death in his family and the team and his agent Bernie Lee on Sunday issued the following statement: “Jimmy Butler has been placed on leave as he deals with the death of a family member. Jimmy and his family ask for privacy at this time as they deal with this loss. Updates will be provided when That would be appropriate.”
Butler, 34, will now miss his 17-year-oldy match this season. He also missed the Bucks' Nov. 28 win in Miami.
Terry Rozier will miss the Bucks game
Miami's midseason acquisition — and long-time Bucks flop — Terry Rozier will also miss Tuesday's game. The 29-year-old goaltender injured his knee against Boston on February 11. In his 10 games with the Heat, Rozier averaged 12.6 points and 5.6 assists per game while integrated into the team. In his first 30 games with Charlotte he averaged 23.2 points and 6.6 assists per game.
He did not play in the Bucks' win in Charlotte on November 17.
In the 2018 playoffs, Rozier averaged 17.6 points per game for Boston as the Celtics beat the Bucks in seven games. Then after joining the Hornets, Rozier had six games in which he scored 20 or more points, including 39 on January 6, 2023.
Miami Heat injury report
- Jimmy Butler, out (personal reasons)
- Terry Rozier, out (sprained right knee)
- Josh Richardson, out (dislocated right shoulder)
- Drew Smith, out (right knee surgery)
- Duncan Robinson, questionable (left shoulder/elbow)
Bucks vs. Heat odds, over/under
Milwaukee is the favorite tonight by 8.5 points. The over/under for the game is 222.5 points, per BetMGM.
more: The Bucks put up a great effort against the Nuggets' Nikola Jokic to earn a big win
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